Liquordiagnostik bei Demenzen [CSF biomarkers in dementia]

Abstract

The clinical diagnosis of dementia today is mainly based on the results of different neuro psychometric tests and cranial CT or MRT. Biomarker quantification in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may indicate and substantiate the presence of neurodegenerative processes especially in Alzheimer's disease. In the course of neurodegenerative processes, such as dementia, certain protein levels in CSF may change. The increased rate of neuronal cell death which is common to all types of dementia may cause elevated levels of the Tau protein. CSF biomarker analysis is especially helpful to differentiate between cognitive deficits due to major depressive disorders without neurodegeneration and dementia. To substantiate the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, the amyloid metabolism should be analyzed. Alzheimer's disease leads to the deposition of amyloid plaques in the brain and is accompanied by a decrease of the peptide A{beta}1-42 in CSF and stable levels of the peptide A{beta}1-40